Highly regarded Argentine import Didia had a successful North American debut on Monday at Colonial Downs, where she won a high-level turf-route allowance race by one length.
Vincent Cheminaud rode Didia for trainer Ignacio Correas two days after the pair had teamed up to win the Big Dreyfus Stakes at Laurel Park with Bellagamba. Foaled on Southern Hemisphere breeding time in 2018, Bellagama in 2020 won the Group 1 Enrique Acebal at San Isidro in Argentina, and Didia won the same race in 2021.
The lightly raced and vastly talented Taiba was scheduled to ship from California to New Jersey on Tuesday as a confirmed runner in the $1 million Haskell Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
It’s a return to the spotlight for nine-time Haskell-winning trainer Bob Baffert, whose 90-day suspension stemming from Medina Spirit’s contested medication-related disqualification in the 2021 Kentucky Derby ended July 3.
Time will tell if the California 2-year-olds of 2022 leave a lasting impact, but this much is certain – they are among the most expensive to prepare for a Del Mar summer.
Among the scores of unraced colts who could debut at Del Mar are a handful of seven-figure 2-year-old purchases: $3.55 million Hejazi (Bernardini), $2.3 million unnamed (Uncle Mo – Borealis Night), $1.75 million Ultimate Gamble (Medaglia d’Oro), $1.2 million Don Corleone (More Than Ready), and $1.55 million yearling Nuclear (Justify).
Evin Roman, the leading rider at the marathon Golden Gate Fields winter-spring meeting earlier this year, resumes riding for the first time since July 10 at Del Mar on Friday.
Roman missed the opening week of the Cal-Expo meeting in Sacramento last weekend to visit family in Puerto Rico, according to his agent, Leo Rodriguez.
Nero Tulip had a bumpy American debut in an allowance race at Santa Anita on May 6, finishing seventh of nine after a troubled trip at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
His next scheduled start – Friday’s $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar – may not be much easier.
The Oceanside Stakes, run at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds, is highly likely to have a full field. The Oceanside drew 26 nominations and track officials said on Monday that the maximum of 14 could start. Some owners and trainers may opt for an allowance race for 3-year-olds on turf on Saturday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Junior Alvarado, who has been riding regularly in Florida since December, has decided to move his tack to New York and will be riding at Saratoga full-time starting this week, his agent Mike Sellitto said.
Alvarado had been a New York regular for years before this winter where he rode the Gulfstream Park meet. He decided to remain in Florida for that track’s spring/summer meet where he’s won 41 races from 219 mounts, good enough for fifth in the standings.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was an atypical slow first week at Saratoga for trainer Steve Asmussen, who started just three horses – without a win – during the first four days of the meet.
Things are about to change.
Asmussen, who had gone 4 for 14 during opening week of the 2021 Saratoga meet, will have plenty of action in the coming days and weeks and spent Sunday and Monday preparing many of his top horses stabled here for upcoming stakes engagements.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Smash Ticket, who was scratched out of the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 9 at Belmont Park over a workers’ compensation insurance issue for trainer Todd Fincher, has been transferred to New York-based trainer Rob Atras and will run in a second-level allowance Wednesday at Saratoga.
Should things go well in this six-furlong race, Smash Ticket could be pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies here Sept. 2, Atras said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ocean Road, winner of the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in May, suffered a torn tendon ligament in a front leg and has been retired from racing, trainer Brendan Walsh said Sunday.
Ocean Road had been intended for a start in Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga.
“Have to call it a day with her unfortunately,” said Walsh, who trains Ocean Road for Qatar Racing. “It’s very disappointing because we didn’t feel like we had gotten to the bottom of her yet. She was going to improve.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Nest, runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes, completed her preparations for the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here next Saturday by working five furlongs in 1:01.30 over Saratoga’s main track.
Nest went in company with Corniche, last year’s 2-year-old male champion, who is pointing to the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes on July 31.
